Coach needs player on the bench to turn up (3)
I believe the answer is:
bus
'coach' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'player on the bench to turn up' is the wordplay.
'player on the bench' becomes 'sub' (substitute in football, for example).
'to turn up' is a reversal indicator.
'sub' back-to-front is 'BUS'.
'needs' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for bus that I've seen before include "Charabanc" , "Means of public transport" , "Public service vehicle" , "Large passenger vehicle - small business!" , "People carrier" .)